Parallel fish passage apparatuses with hydroelectric power generator and method

ABSTRACT

An improved fish passage apparatus is combined with hydroelectric power generation to facilitate migration of fish between water bodies of different heights with minimal injury or trauma to fish. It may also be optimized for power generation when fish are not moving through it. The fish passage apparatus comprises parallel connecting tubes providing fluid communication between upper and lower water bodies, upper valves in each connecting tube adapted to control flow of water to or from an upper water body, lower valves in each connecting tube adapted to control flow of water to or from a lower water body, and working tubes opening into each connecting tube between the upper and lower valves a working portion of which extends functionally vertical to above a water level of the upper body of water and to below a water level of the lower body and is vented at its top such that water can flow freely in and out of the working portion.

This application is a continuation in part of that certain applicationfiled May 8, 2009 under application Ser. No. 12/437,738 and claims thebenefit thereof.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to tubes connected between two bodies of water ofdifferent elevations optimized for power generation, and morespecifically to such a configuration adapted for fish migration betweenthe bodies of water.

2. Prior Art

It is well known that power generators between bodies of water ofdifferent heights extract potential energy from the flow of water.Hydropower generation systems typically rely on water flow from damsthrough turbines that run generators. However, turbine based systems donot allow for fish migration beyond the dams or often injure fishpassing through them. To avoid injury and death to fish passing dams,high cost systems are employed. Currently, the primary bypass methodsare a series of pools as fish ladder apparatus for upstream migrationand spillways for downstream migration. Unfortunately, these methods arealso problematic due to passage delays, increases in dissolved gasses,fish de-scaling, fish disorientation, increased predation, injury and soforth. Further, they are only effective with head heights less thanabout 90 feet. For dams with a head of more than 90 feet, fish must betrapped and transported around or lifted over the dam due to excessivemortality rates and the inability of fish to completely climb theladders.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination fishpassage apparatus and hydropower generator that is conducive to fishmigration with the least possible injury or trauma to the fish. It isanother object that the combination be economically effective for headheights ranging from very small to very large. It is still anotherobject that extraction of potential energy of the water between twobodies of water of different heights be optimized.

SUMMARY

These objects are achieved in the combination fish passage apparatus andpower generator through an oscillating column of water as describedherein which provides a connecting tube between two bodies of water witha pair of valves controlling water flow at the upper and lower bodies ofwater. When the upper valve is opened water surges from the upper bodyof water having significant potential energy in its momentum. To capturethat energy a working tube, functionally vertical, is connected to theconnecting tube between the valves. Flow of water to the lower body ofwater is interrupted with the lower valve closed thereby directing flowinto the working tube. The momentum of the flow causes an overshoot ofthe water level in the working tube past the water level of the upperbody of water by 50 percent or more before it falls back and then risesagain in a wave-like decaying motion until eventually it equalizes atthe water level of the upper body of water. That higher water level inthe working tube may be captured by quickly closing the upper valve,thereby creating a head relative to the water level of the lower waterbody greater than that between the two bodies of water. The lower valveis then opened and the sudden release of water from the working tubecauses the water level in the working tube to drop below the water levelof the lower body of water in a similar wave-like decaying motion untilthe working tube water level equalizes with that of the lower body ofwater. Once the proper water level in the working tube is achieved, thenthe lower valve is closed and the upper valve can be opened again tostart another cycle.

One or more power generation systems (hereinafter “generator” includingall supporting structures and apparatus’) are installed to operate incooperation with the movement of the water in the working tube such thatthe generator may operate in the normal manner of an electricitygenerator as that water moves through a traditional generator. For thesepurposes, use of the term ‘generator’ is deemed to include any and allpower takeoff mechanisms to convert water flow to rotation of atraditional generator, movement of a linear generator, movement of apoint absorber, movement of air above the water as in a water piston, orother means for extracting energy such as piezoelectric devices,hydraulic and/or other weight induced generators, and turbines incombination with traditional electric generators, etc.

For a traditional generator, when the lower valve is opened quickly,water from the working tube surges out. It is that flow that operatesthe generator. All or virtually all of the potential energy captured inthe working tube is extracted ideally when there is no or minimal flowto the lower water body, that is, all momentum from the initial surgefrom the working tube is extracted by the generator when the water levelin the working tube reaches the water level of the lower body of water.Necessarily, for a traditional generator, the generator should be belowthe level of the lower water body and the working tube extends below thewater level of the lower body of water. For a traditional generator itmay also be important to rectify the water flow so that the back-flowingwater does not flow against the turbine and potentially cause damage. Byrectifying the bidirectional flow into a unidirectional flow, the risingsurge in addition to the falling surge in the working tube will spin thegenerator. Although, by extracting energy from the surge as it rises orfalls will ensure that the overshoot, if any, is minimal.

For other technologies that may be employed, the generator may belocated as appropriate relative to the water flow and surge, which aredeemed included in this representative description. That is, it isrecognized that although this description is given in terms of watermoving to the lower body of water, however, it should be understood thatenergy can also be extracted from water surging upwards into the workingtube from the upper water body by suitably operating the upper and lowervalves. These and all other manner of extracting potential energy fromthe upper body of water being at an elevation above the lower body ofwater are deemed included in the present description, which is deemedrepresentative of all other such manner.

Valves of any appropriate design are suitable. Such valves may be basedon butterfly, knife, slide, gate and diaphragm mechanisms for example,or any other and may be operated pneumatically, electrically, etc. oreven manually. All are deemed included herein as possible mechanisms.

It is understood that when a traditional generator is not operating toextract energy from the working tube water flow, the surge of water outof the working tube when the lower valve is opened while the upper valveis closed will cause an overshoot downward past the water level of thelower body of water similar to the overshoot upward in the working tubeabove the upper body of water as described previously. That lower levelcan be captured by quickly closing the lower valve. This lower levelwill then be the effective lower level when the upper valve is openedwhich will cause an even greater overshoot in the working tube upwardpast the upper water body level. This cycle can be repeated until thereis a maximum head in the working tube.

It is understood that this invention may be well implemented asproviding an improved method of fish migration between two bodies ofwater, upstream and or downstream. In this implementation, it isimportant that the valves be opened and closed in such a manner as tonot injure the fish. Experimentation has shown that this will likelyrequire the valves to open and close less quickly, which will compromiseto some extent the advantage described above in power generation. Asillustrated in the figures, the fish will pass through the connectingtube between the valves without passing into the working tube. In fact,a screen or other device will be installed to prevent fish from enteringthe working tube thereby ensuring that fish are never in danger from apower takeoff system. In addition, portions of the connecting tube mayalso serve as resting places during fish passage.

Downstream migrating fish, during the first half of the cycle when thelower valve is closed and the upper valve opens allowing water to surgethrough the top-half of the connection tube, down through the fishscreen, and into the working tube, simply drift with the current down tothe fish screen. After arriving at the fish screen, the fish pass to thelower half of the connection tube, which during the first half of thecycle is still and has no motion. Fish that did not pass the fish screenbefore the working tube crests will then be forced back up theconnection tube towards the upper valve as the falling level in theworking tube will cause surging water to move back up the connectiontube. This back and forth motion will occur as long as the motion in theworking tube is not stopped by closing the upper valve. Once the uppervalve is closed the motion will cease. Next, the second half of thecycle begins as the lower valve is opened. Water from the working tubewill surge out of the working tube, out through the fish screen and downthe lower half of the connection tube and out the lower valve carryingany fish in that area along with it. The lower valve is then closed andthe cycle can begin again.

Upstream migrating fish need to swim past the lower valve while it isopen during the second half of the cycle. As fish pass through the valveand into the lower connection tube against the current, the valve closesand the current stops while the fish continue towards the area of thefish screen. After passing the fish screen, the fish will be eitherpushed back towards the fish screen area or pushed upward toward theupper valve depending on the motion in the working tube. The wholeupstream passage should take seconds or minutes instead of the hours ordays currently required.

Energy generated from the water flow in the working tube can provideelectrical energy to operate the valves and provide for other uses. Fishmay be encouraged into, through and out of the tubes by any of variouseffective methods, such as use of light, slope of the connecting tube,water flow, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a fish passage apparatus for control of waterflow that facilitates fish migration between two bodies of water ofdifferent heights, including a working tube that generates power incooperation with a power generator and contributes to moving fishbetween the bodies of water.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a plurality of fish passage apparatus ofFIG. 1 connected in series.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the fish passage apparatus of FIG. 1 adaptedto optimize power generation instead of fish migration with the waterlevel in the working tube at the water level of the lower body of water.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the fish passage apparatus of FIG. 1 adaptedto optimize power generation instead of fish migration with the waterlevel in the working tube at the water level of the overshoot from watersurging from the upper body of water.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the fish passage apparatus of FIG. 1 adaptedto optimize power generation instead of fish migration with the waterlevel in the working tube at the water level of the downward overshootfrom water surging out of the working tube when the valve at the lowerbody of water is opened quickly.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a plurality of power generators of FIG. 3connected in series.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, the fish passage apparatus 10 of the presentinvention for fish passage between water bodies 12, 14 of differentheights with different water levels 16, 18 comprises a connecting tube20 providing fluid communication between upper and lower water bodies12, 14, an upper valve 22 in the connecting tube 20 adapted to controlflow of water to or from the upper water body 12, a lower valve 24 inthe connecting tube 20 adapted to control flow of water to or from thelower water body 14, and a working tube 26 containing a column of water28 with a surface level 38 opening into the connecting tube 20 betweenthe upper and lower valves 22, 24 a working portion of which workingtube 26 extends functionally vertical to above the water level 16 of theupper water body 12 and to below the water level 18 of the lower waterbody 14 and is vented at its top such that water can flow freely in andout of the working tube 26. A screen 30 covers the opening 32 of theworking tube 26 at the junction of tubes 20, 26 such that fish areprevented from leaving connection tube 20 and entering the working tube26.

When the upper valve 22 is opened with the lower valve 24 closed, waterflows through the connecting tube 20 and flows into the working tube 26raising the surface level 38 of the water column 28 to at least thewater level 16 of the upper body of water 12 and allows for fish toenter the connecting tube 20 from the upper body of water 12. When theupper valve 22 then closes and the lower valve 24 opens, fish may flowwith the current from the connecting tube 20 into the lower body ofwater 14 as the surface level 38 of the water column 28 in the workingtube 26 lowers to at least the water level 18 of the lower body of water14. Whereupon, the lower valve 24 closes and a new cycle can begin againwith the opening of upper valve 22.

An electrical power generator 34 operates in cooperation with theworking tube 26, adapted to extract potential energy from the column ofwater 28 in the working tube 26 as the upper and lower valves 22, 24 aresuitably operated; which, for example of a traditional generator, as thecolumn of water 28 falls when the upper valve 22 is closed while thelower valve 24 is opened, or but also alternatively when the upper valve22 is opened while the lower valve 24 is closed and the column of water28 rises.

Clearly, a plurality of said fish passage apparatus 10 may be combinedin series where an upper body of water 12 of one of said plurality offish passage apparatus 10 is a lower body of water 14 of a next higherfish passage apparatus until the final upper body of water 12 isreached, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the power generator 34 may be used withoutconsideration for fish migration between the two bodies of water, thatis, with or without accommodations for fish migration, the primarydifference being the rate at which the valves 22, 24 open and close andthe slope of the connecting tube 20. For power generation, the surfacelevel 38 of the column of water 28, or head, may be maximized. Tomaximize the head in the column of water 28, the upper valve 22 is suchas can be opened sufficiently quickly to result in a surge of water intothe working tube 26 such that momentum in said surge of water results ina surface level 38 of the column of water 28 in the working tube 26 thatextends upward typically beyond a water level 16 of the upper body ofwater 12. Similarly, the upper valve 22 is such as may be closedsufficiently quickly to capture and maintain the column of water 28 inthe working tube 26 at a desired upper level 36, as shown in FIG. 4. Aswith the upper valve 22, the lower valve 24 is such as may be closedsufficiently quickly to capture and maintain the column of water 28 inthe working tube 26 at a desired lower level 40 after the lower valve 24is opened with the upper valve 22 closed resulting in a surge of waterout of the working tube 26, which desired lower level 40 may be belowthe water level 18 of the lower body of water 14, as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, as with the fish passage apparatus configuration, aplurality of said power generators also may be combined in series wherean upper body of water 12 of one of said plurality of power generators34 is a lower body of water 14 of a next higher power generator untilthe final upper body of water 12 is reached.

In use then, electrical power may be generated from potential energybetween upper and lower bodies of water 12, 14 and maximized byproviding the configuration described above and appropriately quicklyopening and closing the upper and lower valves 22, 24 to create andexploit momentum of water flowing into and out of the working tube 26.The cycle of opening and closing the valves 22, 24 as described is thenrepeated for continual power generation. Power generated may by used tooperate the valves and for other purposes. When the configuration isadditionally, or solely, used for fish migration between the bodies ofwater, the speed of the opening and closing of the valves may be reducedto prevent injury to the fish.

The invention further comprises the following new matter to be evaluatedas a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 12/437,738, filed May8, 2009.

SUMMARY

Juvenile fish have a genetic cue that causes them to make their way downstream to the ocean or other large body of water to mature and becomeadults. They are born with innate knowledge of where to go and whatclues will lead them downstream. In many instances, the juvenile fishuse the motion of the water to find the way downstream. Most of the timethe juvenile fish aren't swimming at all but rather, riding the currentof the river or stream. That is until there is a dam and the water stopsmoving. Then the juvenile fish swim looking for a current that will takethem down stream again.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a system that has asteady current that will attract juvenile fish and then won't allow anopportunity for them to turn back and leave the system. By putting twofish passage apparatuses in parallel one upper valve can close as theother upper valve opens and the flow of water from the upper body ofwater will be nearly continuous. Conversely, if the system is operatedsingly or in series, then while the upper valve is closed the flow abovethat valve would stop and allow the fish a chance to leave. However, byoperating two units in parallel as a single system the flow above theupper valves would be nearly continuous and thereby ensure that thejuvenile fish cannot leave once they have entered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 7 is a diagram of two fish passage apparatuses in parallel forcontrol of water flow that facilitates fish migration between two bodiesof water of different heights, including working tubes that generatespower in cooperation with power generators and contributes to movingfish between the bodies of water.

FIG. 8 is a view looking down on the two fish passage apparatuses inparallel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As further shown in FIG. 7, the fish passage apparatus 10 of the presentinvention for fish passage between water bodies 12, 14 of differentheights with different water levels 16, 18 comprises a left connectingtube 40 and a right connecting tube 41 running in parallel providingfluid communication between upper and lower water bodies 12, 14. Eachparallel connecting tube 40, 41 has an upper valve 22 in the connectingtube 20 adapted to control flow of water to or from the upper water body12, a lower valve 24 in each parallel connecting tube 40, 41 adapted tocontrol flow of water to or from the lower water body 14. Working tubes26 containing a column of water 28 with a surface level 38 opening intoeach parallel connecting tube 40, 41 between the upper and lower valves22, 24 a working portion of which working tube 26 extends functionallyvertical to above the water level 16 of the upper water body 12 and tobelow the water level 18 of the lower water body 14 and is vented at itstop such that water can flow freely in and out of the working tubes 26.Screens 30 cover the opening 32 of the working tubes 26 at the junctionof tubes 40, 41 and 26 such that fish are prevented from leaving theparallel connecting tubes 40, 41 and entering the working tubes 26.

The upper water body 12 is connected to the parallel connecting tubes40, 41 through an upper y-joint 39. The upper y-joint 39 has one openinginto the upper water body 12 and entering that opening is a nearlyconstant flow of water.

In left connecting tube 40 the upper valve 22 is opened with the lowervalve 24 closed, water flows through the left connecting tube 40 andflows into the working tube 26 raising the surface level 38 of the watercolumn 28 to at least the water level 16 of the upper body of water 12and allows for fish to enter the left connecting tube 40 from the upperbody of water 12. When the upper valve 22 then closes and the lowervalve 24 opens, fish may flow with the current from the left connectingtube 40 into the lower y-joint 42 and into the lower body of water 14 asthe surface level 38 of the water column 28 in the working tube 26lowers to at least the water level 18 of the lower body of water 14.Whereupon, the lower valve 24 closes and a new cycle can begin againwith the opening of upper valve 22.

In the right connecting tube 41 the upper and lower valves 22, 24 workin nearly exact opposite timing as in left connecting tube 40. When theupper valve 22 in the left connecting tube 40 closes; the upper valve 22in the right connecting tube 41 opens allowing the water in the uppery-joint 39 to flow nearly continuously into either the right or leftconnecting tube 40, 41. The right connecting tube 41 operates in theexact same manner as described for left connecting tube 40 except thatthey are one hundred and eighty degrees out of phase.

Electrical power generators 34 operate in cooperation with the workingtubes 26, adapted to extract potential energy from the columns of water28 in the working tubes 26 as the upper and lower valves 22, 24 aresuitably operated; which, for example of a traditional generator, as thecolumn of water 28 falls when the upper valve 22 is closed while thelower valve 24 is opened, or but also alternatively when the upper valve22 is opened while the lower valve 24 is closed and the column of water28 rises.

1. A fish passage apparatus for fish passage between water bodies ofdifferent heights, comprising, a plurality of connecting tube providingfluid communication between upper and lower water bodies, a plurality ofupper valves in the connecting tubes adapted to control flow of water toor from an upper water body, a plurality of lower valves in theconnecting tubes adapted to control flow of water to or from a lowerwater body, a plurality of working tubes opening into the connectingtubes between the upper and lower valves a working portion of whichextends functionally vertical to above a water level of the upper bodyof water and to below a water level of the lower body and is vented atits top such that water can flow freely in and out of the workingportion.
 2. The fish passage apparatus of claim 1 wherein fish areprevented from entering the working tubes from the connecting tubes. 3.The fish passage apparatus of claim 1 wherein with the lower valveclosed, when the upper valve is opened water flows through theconnecting and working tubes raising the water surface level in theworking tubes to at least the water level of the upper body of water andfish can enter and exit the connecting tube from the upper body of waterwhile the upper valve is open, and when the upper valve then closes andthe lower valve opens, fish may enter and exit the connecting tubesthrough the lower valve as the water in the working tube lowers to awater level of at least that of the lower body of water.
 4. The fishpassage apparatus of claim 1 wherein with the upper valve closed, whenthe lower valve is opened water flows out of the working tube to atleast the water level of the lower body of water and fish can enter theconnecting tube from the lower body of water and when the lower valvethen closes and the upper valve opens, fish may swim upstream throughand out of the connecting tube into the upper body of water.
 5. The fishpassage apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrical powergenerator operating in cooperation with the working tube adapted toextract potential energy from a column of water in the working tube asthe column of water moves when the upper and lower valves are suitablyoperated.
 6. The fish passage apparatus of claim 1 comprising two ofsaid fish passage apparatuses in parallel wherein, the right connectingtube upper and lower valves work in nearly exact opposite timing as inleft connecting tube upper and lower valves, allowing the water in anupper and a lower y-joint to flow nearly continuously into either theright or left connecting tube.
 7. The fish passage apparatus of claim 6wherein, the upper valve in the left connecting tube closes in closetemporal proximity to the opening of the upper valve in the rightconnecting tube and the right connecting tube operates in the exact samemanner as the left connecting tube except that they are one hundred andeighty degrees out of phase.
 8. The fish passage apparatus of claim 1comprising a plurality of said fish passage apparatuses in parallelwherein, the connecting tube upper and lower valves are timed to work inharmony such that water is flowing into at least one connecting tube atany moment and out of one connecting tube at any moment, allowing thewater in an upper and lower y-joints to flow nearly continuously.
 9. Thefish passage apparatus of claim 8 wherein, the connecting tubes operatein the exact same except that they are out of phase proportional to thequantity of connecting tubes.
 10. The method of providing a fish passagebetween upper and lower bodies of water, comprising the following steps:a. providing at least two connecting tubes, a right connecting tube anda left connecting tube, that provide fluid communication between upperand lower water bodies, an upper valve in each connecting tube adaptedto control flow of water to or from an upper water body, a lower valvein each connecting tube adapted to control flow of water to or from alower water body, a working tube opening into each connecting tubebetween the upper and lower valves a working portion of which extendsfunctionally vertical to above a water level of the upper body of waterand is vented at its top such that water can flow freely in and out ofthe working portion; b. with the upper and lower valves closed in theleft connecting tube, opening the upper valve in the left connectingtube sufficiently quickly to result in a surge of water into theconnecting tube and into the working tube such that momentum in saidsurge of water results in an oscillating column of water in the workingtube and therein establishing an upper fish migration condition duringwhich condition fish may swim upward through the connecting tube andinto the upper body of water or fish may swim or follow the current fromthe upper body of water into the connecting tube and in close temporalproximity closing the upper valve in the right connecting tube; c.closing the upper valve in the left connecting tube to end the upperfish migration condition and maintain the column of water at a desiredupper level in the working tube and in close temporal proximity openingthe lower valve in the right connecting tube to continue the fishmigration and not allow the fish to turn around; d. with the upper valveclosed in the left connecting tube, opening the lower valve of the sametube to allow water to flow out of the working tube with the water levelin the working tube stabilizing at the water level of the lower body ofwater therein establishing a lower fish migration condition and in closetemporal proximity closing the lower valve on the right connecting tubeand opening the upper valve in the right connecting tube to build up acolumn of water in a right working tube; e. maintaining the lower fishmigration condition in the left connecting tube a desired period of timeto allow fish migrating downstream to exit the connection tube at itslower end or to allow fish migrating upstream to enter the connectiontube at its lower end, simultaneously fish are entering or exiting theopen upper valve of the right connecting tube; f. closing the lowervalve on the left connecting tube; g. repeating steps a through g. 11.The method of claim 10 with the additional step of generating electricalpower from the movement of the water in the working tube.
 12. The methodof claim 11 wherein electrical power is generated from upward movementof the water in the working tube or from downward movement of the waterin the working tube or both.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein, openingthe upper valve of one connecting tube is nearly simultaneous withclosing the upper valve in the other connecting tube.
 14. The method ofclaim 10 wherein, opening the lower valve of one connecting tube isnearly simultaneous with closing the lower valve in the other connectingtube.